Special Saturday Showdown

But, CFC is astonishingly alive and kicking in the final lap of the rally alongside ‘League Winner Shield’ holder FC Goa, ATK and Bengaluru FC. Chennaiyin, which sealed the 4th qualifying berth, has been pitted against table-topper Goa for the two-legged semi-finals, first of which is slated at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Saturday.

As a result wasn’t of paramount importance in the last round-robin fixture against NorthEast United FC in Guwahati on Tuesday, Coyle made sweeping changes to his starting line-up. But the gaffer will revert to his tried and tested combination that has helped the team maintain a purple patch – an eight-game unbeaten run.

Since the start of the ‘leap’ year, CFC has gained gargantuan ground and central to its renaissance have been Nerijus Valskis and Rafael Crivellaro. The pairing, which has come up with 20 goals and 11 assists so far, may have to go the extra mile against an organised Goa on the added day in the calendar.

Wingers Lallianzuala Chhangte and Andre Schembri have perfectly played the second fiddle to the primary goal outlets, dominating the flanks. However, Coyle appears to be having a selection headache, with Schembri and Dragos Firtulescu not in the best of condition. Irrespective of who take the field, the widemen are expected to face a potent challenge from Goa’s attack-minded full-backs Mandar Rao Dessai and Seriton Fernandes.

Anirudh Thapa and Edwin Sydney Vanspaul have more often than not smoothly controlled the proceedings in the centre of the pitch. But a battle against midfield metronomes Ahmed Jahouh and Lenny Rodrigues will certainly put the duo to test at the Marina Arena.

Aware of the disasterclass it delivered in the two league matches against Goa – Chennaiyin shipped in a total of seven goals – the CFC defence will have to step its game up a notch if it strives to keep the visiting forwards in check. A titanic task awaits central defenders Lucian Goian and Eli Sabia, who will be assigned the duty of marking the main threats Ferran Corominas and Hugo Boumous.

“The defences will have a huge part to play. When you look at both forward lines, the attacking and central midfielders are fantastic. They are on top of their game and can win games in no time. That puts huge onus on how we defend,” said 53-year-old Coyle in the pre-matchpress conference.

Former Goa boss Sergio Lobera did the league double over Chennaiyin but his expulsion looks to have made little difference. The side continues to rack up goals almost at will, with Corominas, Boumous and Jackichand Singh routinely rippling the net. The tourist, now managed by Clifford Miranda, will be without midfielder Edu Bedia as the Spaniard has flown back home for personal reasons.  

The interim coach, as he has in the past, will bank on centre-backs Carlos Pena and Mourtada Fall to dominate the defensive territory.

The team with the highest aggregate score over the two legs will qualify for the ISL 6 title decider in Goa on March 14. If there is nothing to separate the sides after normal time in the final leg, the away goal rule will come into effect. In case the clubs are level even in that aspect, the tie will head into extra time, where away goals won’t count.

In the absence of a winning goal, the finalist will be decided by a penalty shootout. While the mathematics can afford to be done next week, it’s no rocket science that both teams wouldn’t want to leave the job late. As two form sides clash under the night skies, a super Saturday is in the offing.